Loadi



Feb. 21, 1928.

E. c. MORGAN LOADING APPARATUS Original Filed April 24. 1916 Q N 8 f i Y M) Ml J '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21, 1928.

2? :3; S: m ax? JILII g y III Feb. 21, 1928. l

- E. c. MORGAN LOADING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Ori' a1 l.

Feb. 21, 1928.

' E. C. MORGAN LOADING APPARATUS Original Filed April 24, 1916 'TSheets-Sheet 4 M UCM m m m Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,696

E. C. MORGAN LOADI NG APPARATU S Feb. 21, 1928.

E. C. MORGAN LOADING APPARATUS inal Flled April 24, 1916 MN Nu we 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ll llllllllHl l Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,696

E. C. MORGAN LOADING APPARATUS 'Original Filed April 24, 1916 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

JNITED star-Es PATEi EDMUND G. MORGAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; OLIVE EUGENTE MOlttMillt' EIllZEG'UTlRtTIliZ $.AID EDMUND Cl. MORGAN, DECEASED.

LOADING APPARATUS.

Original application filed April 2a, 1916, Serial No. 93,043L13ivit1cd and this application filed .ltlpril 1, 1923. Serial No. 630,831.

This invention relates to loading apparatus particularly adapted for loading coal at the working face in a coal mine, and is a division of my copending application Se rial No. 93,048, filed April 241, 1916, for an improvement in mining machines.

fine of the objects of the present invention is the provision of improved gathering mechanism which is adapted to move along a mine floor near the base of the mine wall to gather coal which has been dislodged from the working face. i

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved gathering mechanism comprising a beveled nose piece in position to movealong the floor and wedge itself under the coal to be loaded and pre vent the gathering mechanism from riding up on the coal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of loading apparatus of improved construction and more efficient and. economical in operationthan loading devices previously devised.

Other objects of the invention will appear herinafter, the novel features and combina tions being set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figs. 1 and 2 taken together constitute a complete top plan view of the machine shown in operative position in a mine chamber.

Figs. 3 and l taken together constitute a side elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 taken together constitutes longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, inclusive.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 3 lookig forward in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view base plate of the machine.

10 is a bottom plan view of the movable scoop and conveyor forming a part of the loading machine; and

11 is a top plan view of tion shown in 10.

in the drawings the main base plate 230 is shown in position to support the greater part of the loading mechanisn'i. This base plate is shown in the drawings. so as to be of the main the construcadapted to rest on and slide over a mine floor. This base plate is provided with up-turned flanges 21entending longitudinally along the edges 1 thereof, for the purpose of strengthening the base plate as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The central portion of the base plate is provided with a somewhat extended flat supporting surface 22, on which parts of the machine to be described slidably rest. This supporting surface 22 is shown in plan view in 9.

The base plate 20 as shown in '9 is provided at its forward end with an eatension 23 having an upright standard 2t projecting upwardly therefrom and secured to the plate by cap screws 25, as shown in Fig. 5. The standard. 24 carries a pair of pivot bolts 26 and 27, which project from the standard at opposite sides thereof to form pivotal supports for the swinging arms 28 and 29, there being a pair of arms 28 supported on the lower bolt 26 and a second pair of arms 29 supported on the upper bolt 27. The arms 28 and 29 are pivoted at the forward ends on pivot bolts 30 and 31, respectively, which are carried by a link 32 extending between the pivot bolts 30 and 31 and holding the latter in fined relation to oneanother. By this construction, a vertically swinging arm is provided which constitutes a parallel motion device arranged to hold the link 32 in a vertical position regardless of the angle of the pair of swinging arms. Although this structure constitutes part of the mining mechanism shown in Fig. 5 reference is made thereto herein to show that this mining mechanism is detachable at the pivots E26 and 2'"! so that the remaining mechanism may be used as a simple loading machine to gather and load coal which has been dislodged from the mine wall by another mining machine or by means of blasting operations. Reference is also made to the mining mechanism herein to illustrate a method of dislodging the coal by means of a separate machine such as that disclosed and covered in my copending application Serial No. 93,0418 tiled originally April 24, 1916.

The arms are connected near the pivot 26 by a plate 33 as shown in Fig. 5, this plate 33 being secured to the inner side of each arm by menas of cap screws 81'. The plate 38 constitutes aplatform on which a till llh

, is rigid with the bracket 42.

motor is mounted, connected by a worm and worm wheel enclosed in a casing 36 with ashaft 37 mounted on journals carried by the arms 28. The shaft 37 has .secured thereto a pair of pinions 39, which mesh with the teeth of arcuate racks secured 'to the forward end of base plate 23 and projecting upwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 5. The operation of the motor 35 will drive the pinions 39 and thus swing the arms 28 and 29 upwardly or downwardly about their pivots 26 and 27, the direction of the pivotal movement of the arms 28 and 29 depending upon thedirection of rotation of the motor 35. The motor 35 is governed by one of a series of controllers 41, shown in Fig. 1, which controlhn's are connected with the various moters for driving the different parts of the machine and are arranged to govern the speed and direction of the motor which they control.

The cutter head for dislodging the material from the mine vein is carried by the link 32, as shown in 3. Projecting forwardly in a horizontal direction on a line with the lower portion of the arm is a supporting bracket 42, which is extended laterally to form circular rack 13 which At the center of the rac'l; 43 the bracket- 42 is provided with a journal bearing for the yoke frame 4-6. The upper portion of this yoke frame 46 is provided with a journal bearing in the upper horizontal frame 55. Suitable gearing may be provided in the casing for securing a slow feeding movement of the chain cutter 52, and gearing may be connected to the arcuate rack 4-3 to secure a quick-restoring movement of the core cutter.

A motor 49 is mounted on the yoke frame 416 in position to operate gearing in the easing 69 connected to a sprocket pivoted at 67 as shown in Fig. 3. A chain cutter 71 is guided around the cutter frame having the lower run 50, vertical run 7 3 and the upper horizontal run 52. This cutter frame is supported by the vertical cross-piece 51, which is secured to the yoke frame e6. An operating lever 89 is pivoted to the upper portion 53 of the yoke frame 4'6, so as to control the feeding mechanism which swings the core cutter on a vertical axis curing the cutting operation.

Referring to Fig.1, it will be seen that the rotation. ofthe core cutter almut its vertical axis 56 will form a crescent-shaped section of material in the mine vein. Fig. 5 illustrates that a number of cuts may be taken one above the other for each position of the entire machine, the upper and lower cores ali ays being formed in horizontal planes regardless of the height to which the cutter head is adjusted by the arms 28 and 29. this arrangement the chain cutter will dislodge the coal from the floor and. roof of the mine in such a manner as to leave a perfectly plane, smooth surface at both top and bottom of the mine chamber and deliver .all of the material from the floor and roof of the mine. This cutting operation is particularly useful at the floor to facilitate the forward movement of the gathering mechanism as hereinafter described.

In order to remove the material severed by the cutting mechanism illustrated or by means of a separate mzuzhiue or by num'w zl' blasting, a conveyor is provided which may be anoved into and out of position beneath the dislodged coal at the working face. This conveyor, shown in Fig. 1, consists of an endless chain provided with out ardly extending flights 101 pivolaily secured at their inner 01th.: to lug-e i015, which are located at intervals along the chain 1.00 by being attached to spaced lll i or liii chain. The chain is mounted to travel on a movable bed plate 103, which is oblong in shape as shown in Fig. 1, and which is provided at opposite sides with runways for the forward and return runs of the conveyor flights 101.

The plate 103 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, has a longitudinally extending slot 10-i extending through the central portion thereof, and the chain is guided around this slot by upwardly extending guide flanges or shoulders 105, shown most clearly in Fig. 3. ill the forward end of the run for the chain 100 an overhanging flange 105 projects from the shoulder 105 in position to extend over the chain 100 and hold the chain against upward movement relatively to the plate 103.

At one side of the plate 103 on the return run of the conveyor the shoulder 105 is continued upwardly to form a flange or guard wall 106, as shown in Figs. 1 and S, to prevent material being carried by the conveyor from escaping from the inner edge of the bed plate. i. similar wall 10'? ls gin-avid? at the outer edge of the conveyor plate or pan 103. At the side of the gathering plate 103 along which the couvey f is l0! move forwardly toward the curler die outer edge of the plate is provided with a peripheral flange 100, as shown in Fig. H. which supports the outer edge of the cover plate 109 secured to the plate 103 and spaced above this plate a sufiicient distance to permit the travel of the chain 100 and the flights 101 carried thereby, between the bed plate and the cover plate. This cover plate 109, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 1, forms a running board on which the operator may stand and along which he may walk in moving from one end of the machine to the other.

As shown in Fig. 10. which is a bottom plan View of the movable gathering plate shown in plan view in Fig. 11. inc plate 103 is provided on its lower side with supporting slides or runs 110, which extend along the edges of the opening of the slot 10 1 at the central portion of the plate. These slides 110 as shown in 1 3, rest upon guideways 111 formed on the projections 23 of the main base plate 20. This projection 23 is shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 5.

An upwardly extending flange 112 as 51101.) in Fig. 31s positioned along the inner w of one of the guideways 111, while the good plate 113 extends upwardly at the in nor edge of the other guideway 111. As the plate 103 is moved longitudinally on the base plate 20, in a manner to be described, it is guided in its ii -ovenient by the flange 112 and by the upwardly extending plate 113. In other words, the slideways 110 shown in Fig. 10 rest on the guideways 111, and embrace the vertical walls of the flange 112 and guard plate 113.

The rear portion of the plate 103 as shown in Fig. 10, is provided with a bearing surface 111- which slides over the surface 22 as the plate 103 is moved along the base plate 20. it should be understood that Fig. 10 is a bottom plan View, and therefore when the plate 103 is mounted on the base frame the surface 11% of Fig. 10 rests on and slides over the surface 22 of Fig. 9. A pair of shoes is secured to the under surface of the plate 103 near the forward end of the latter, as shown in Fig. 10, in position to til) bear on the mine floor at opposite sides of the base plate 0. This is shown clearly in Fig. 3. which is a sectional view on the line 8 3 of 3 looking forwardly in the direction of the arrows.

The plate 103 carries at its forward end an arcuately shaped platform 116. This pla in as shown in Fig. 5, is made cornparatively thin but in conformity to -suit able strength and is provided with a beveled edge 11? to form a recess in which the flights 101 travel and also to form a scoop for direc-ting the material on to the platform 116. By providing such a flat comparatively thin nose portion for the forward end of the conveyor pan 103 the beveled arcuate edge 117 will be in position to move along the floor and penetrate the mass of dislodged coal and prevent the said nose piece from riding up .16 coal which is to be loaded. In other by having the platform 116 comparatively thin and beveled at its forward end as .h of the conveyor flights. The wedging action of the beveled nose piece will keep the birtoin of the platform 116 in engagement :h the floor. As shown in. Fig. the rear sid of the bevel 11? is provided with a shouloer to act an arcuate guard for the may fit closely with the out formed by the loop core cutter. At the forward end of the running board 109 at the point where the conveyor mechanism passes from beneath the running board onto the platform 116,.a guide arm 119 is positioned for preventing coal from being moved baclrwardly onto the running board when the platform 116 with its beveled edge is moved forwardly.

As shown in Fig. 5, the bearing plate 114: which supports the rear end of the conveyor bed plate 103 is spaced downwardly from the plane of said bed plate and carried on downwardly extending flanges or Walls 120.

This gives the conveyor bed plate 103 an i upward inclination rearwardly so as to raise the rear end of the conveyor a suflicient height to permit it to discharge into a supplementary conveyor, as will be described. The bearing plate 114 is continued rearwardly to form a ring 121, as shown in Figs. 6, and 11. The ring 121 receives a downwardly extending bearing ring 122 attached to the forward end of a supplemental conveyor 123. This supplemental conveyor 123 is provided with a hopper shaped wall 124, which is in position to be in delivery communication with the rear or discharge end of the, conveyor 103, as shown in Fig. 2. The conveyor 123 is free to rotate horizontally within the ring 121 to various angular positions relative to the base plate or stationary pan 20, and is supported in its *arious positions at its discharge end on a flange 125 carried at the rear end of the base plate 20, as shown in Fig. 2. The rear loading conveyor 123 is provided with an ndless flight conveyor 126 of the chain and scraper type, which is driven by a motor 12'? supported by a bracket 128 secured to the under side of the conveyor, as shown in l? 7. The motor 127 is adapted to drive a shaft 129 (Fig. '4') through gearing 130 carrying sprocket wheels 131, which engage the conveyor chains to drive the same.

Carried at the rear end of the conveyor bed 103 in a position directly over the supporting plate 11 1 is a sprocket wheel 132, as shown in Figs. 5 and 11. The sprocket wheel 132 is provided with internal gear teeth 133. The points of the teeth 133 bear on the outer periphery of a circular flange 13 1, which extends upwardly from the upper surface of the rear portion of the bed plate 103. In this way, the circular flange 134; forms a journal about which the sprocket wheel 132 rotates. The sprocket wheel is driven by a pinion 1 5 carried on an upright shaft 136. which has its lower end journaled in a bearing 13? formed in the rear portion of the bed plate 103. The upper end of the shaft 136 is journaled at 138 in a casting 139 supported at the rear portion of the conveyor bed plate 103 by cap screws which enter threaded openings 1 10 (Fig. 11)

in W

in the plate 103; :The shaft 136 is driven by a worm wheel 111, which meshes with a worm 1&2 driven by an electric motor 1 13 which is mounted on the upper portion of the casting 139.. it should be understood that. castin 1-39 is mounted on and securet o i tion of the bed plate 103 so to move bodily therewith, and therefor the mechanism for driving the chain will always be nproper relative position; it. casing 11% meloses the worm and worm wh el.

Tl'ie conveyor chain 100 passes around a sprocket weeel 132 md is driven thereby oy 1e teeth 1 15 carried on the outer periphery of the sprocketwheel. The motor 14:3 for driving the conveyor chain. through the mechanism described is governed by one of the controllers 11', shown in Fig. 1. These controllers li are secured to the guard wall or plate 113, which guard wall also carries a foot-board orplatform 1 16 on which the operator'may stand...

As show-11in Fig. 2, the carries the electric mote; vi'ardly. projecting portion 150, which carries a second electric motor 151 and a hearing 152, in which is journaled one end of a threaded shaft This shaft 153 has se cured thereto aworm wheel 15%, as shown in Fig. 5.. lhisworm' wneel 154 meshes with a Wm-111 155 which is d iven by the electric motor 151 second bearing 156 is provided for. the sl-aft 153 on that side of the worm Wl'lQl ='5-i opposite the bearing 152. 1111 this way the shaft 153 is held against moving longitudinally relatlve to the conveyor bed plate 103, out is journaled for rotation in the bearings 152 and156. The shaft 158 is threaded as shown in F 5 through the standard npported on the extension 23 ofthe have plate 20. When the electric moton151 is driven the shaft 153 is rotated in its threaded engagement with the standard 2 and msthe conveyor bed plate 103 and the forward arcuate platform 116 are *aused to slide longitudinally relative tothe main frame of; the machine, the c irection of movement ofthe platform 116 eing controlled by the direction of rotation f the electric motor 151, which in turn is governed by one of the controllers 11.

The 'n'iain base plate 20, as shown in Figs. 2, 4i, 6 and 9, 1S provided with an electric motor 160'for position the machine in the mine chamber. The electric motor 160 is connected thron -h e'earino' 161 with a shaft cables may be conducted in either direction from the machine frame to enable he latter to be moved into and out of the mine chamber. For instance, when roof achs are used as anchorages at 165 and ropes 161 are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the operation of the drums 163 to exert pulls on the cables 164,- will move the whole machine fm'wardly approximately in the direction of the length of the machine. Bylocatingtheanchorages $5 rc-arwardly of the machine the latter may be drawn away from the mine wall by operation of the drums 163. The whole machine may also be shifted laterally by exert- 1115; a pull on one cable while paying out the other one, or by exerting a pull on one cable while the free end of the other remains disconnected from the anchorage.

in operation, the gathering mechanism comprising the platform 116 may be in a retree-zed POSltlOll'Wllllf the coal is being dislodgec "rem an upright working face 111 advance of the machine and between the approximately parallel side walls. After the coal has been dislodged either by the machine mounted on the frame as shown in the drawings or by means of a separate machine or by means of blasting or otherwise, the electric n'mtor 151 may be operated to rotate the threaded shaft 153 in the standard 24; so as to force the beveled nose piece 117 under the dislodged material. is the platform 116 moved forwardly the conveyor chain 100 will be driven by the electric motor 11, and the dislodged material will be carried baclrwardly over the bed plate 103 and discharged into the hopper 124:, which in turn directs the material on to the conveyor 126, which transfers the material to the rear end of the loadin conveyor into a mine ca During the forward sliding movement of the nose piece 116 alongthe mine floor the resistance due to the friction may be reduced to a minimum by using the shoes 115 shown n bottom plan view in Fig. 10 and in elevation-in Fig. 5 to sustain the greater part of the weight of the forward end of the corn veyor bed plate 103. It should be under stood, however, that the bottom of the nose piece 116 should remain close to the floor so that the beveleo edge 11? may act as a chisel to scrape'up the discharged material and so that'the wedging action of the beveled edge will hold th. gathering mechanism at the floor so that this gathering mcchanisu'i will not ride up on the dislodged coal. Therefore, while the spaced apart shoes 115 sustain the greater portion of the weight and reduce friction, the bottom of the nose per tion 116 and the forward beveled edge ll/i" are kept close to the mine floor so as to more efiiciently scoop up the dislodged coal to be acted on by the traveling conveyor flights 101.

it should also be understood that while the nose portion 116 is being moved forward and the beveled edge 117 is being forced under the dislodged coal, the main frame 20 is being held stationary and for this purpose, if desired, the ropes 164 may be con-. nected to the anchorages 165 as shown in Fig. 2 and the drums 163 locked against rotation, or if desired the roof jacks 165 may be placed near the parallel edges of the base plate 20 but rearwardly thereof so as to act as abutments and prevent the base frame 20 from being moved rearwardly when the gathering mechanism is moved forwardly under the dislodged coal at the working face. a

After the dislodged coal at the working face has been removed by operation of the gathering mechanism it may again be retracted so as to afford sufficient room for another series of dislodging operations at the working face. If such a mining machine as that illustrated in Fig. 5 is used the platform 116 may be moved forwardly to gather a load while another cutting operation is being carried on across the mine wall, and even during such operation the coal as dislodged may be automatically transferred to the rear loading conveyor. However, if desired the gathering mechanism may be retracted after each loading operation and moved forward only after a complete cutting operation across the mine wall has been completed. Either method of operation may be employed, and the cutting operation may be repeated as many times as is necessary to work the entire thickness of the mine vein. Whenever desired the whole machine may be moved forward to occupy a new position where the gathering mechanism may reach forward for loading purposes.

It should also be noted that while the spaced apart shoes 115 are useful to reduce friction of movement of the bottom portion of the nose piece over the mine floor, the

greater portion of the conveyor mechanism is sustained by the surface 22 shown in Fig. 9. The surface 114 shown in bottom plan View in Fig. and in sectional elevation in Fig. 5 is the portion which engages the surface 22.

The conveyor bed frame 103 is provided with guides 110, which span the uprights 112 and 113 of Fig. 8. Therefore, the conveyor frame 103 receivesfurther support along the guideways 111. The base frame and the standard 24 mounted on the forward end thereof remain stationary during the operation of the gathering mechanism, and so also the operators platform 146 which is connected to the base frame 20, as shown in Fig. 8. The mechanism for thrusting the nose piece forward into the coal is operated by the electric motor 151. A separate a electric motor 143 is employed for driving the flights 101, and a third separate electric motor 127 is used for driving the rear loading conveyor 126. This is the preferred arrangement because it may be desired to move the nose piece under the coal to be loaded at a slow rate of speed while the conveyor flights are being operated rapidly. Where the coal is comparatively loose, however, the nose portion may be thrust into the coal rapidly and the conveyor flights oper ated at such speed as may be desirable. A separate electric motor 160 is also employed for shifting the machine forwardly or rear wardly or laterally. It will also be noted that when the mining mechanism is used one motor may be employed for adjusting the elevation of the cuttin mechanism and a separate motor 49 employed for operating the cutting mechanism. It will also be seen that since the hopper 124 is connected to the ring 121 shown in Fig. 11, the rear conveyor is moved forward and rearward bodily whenever the gathering mechanism is moved forwardly or rearwardly relatively to the base frame 20.

Inasmuch as the motor 143 for driving the conveyor flights 101 is an electric motor it may be reversed so that whenever there is any tendency of the material being choked while it is being moved between the walls 106, 107, the conveyor flights may be retracted so as to relieve such choking condition. Furthermore, cuttings may be loaded by the flights traveling along rearwardly under the plate 109 toward the hopper 124. As shown in Fig. 2, whether the line of draft is under the plate 109 toward the hopper 124 or along the trough at the other side toward the hopper 124, either line of draft opens directly into the hopper 124. This is evident from the manner in which the flights 101 project rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the plate 103 as shown in Fig. 2.

It will also be seen by referring to the accompanying drawings that the going and return sections of the gathering conveyor are at the same elevation. The forward conveyor is both a gathering and elevating conveyor comprising non-traveling runways and the reversible transmission belt 100 having spaced flights 101 traveling over said runways for conveying material from a runway in the forward run of the belt. In other words, the pan or bed plate 103 comprises non-traveling conveyor flight planes at the opposite runs of the belt 100. By reason of the reversibility of the electric motor 143 the chain or belt 100 is a reversible trans -mission belt having spaced flights traveling charge" end "ofthe forward conveyor and is open in the line of draft of such forward the second.

"thereof.- That-is to say, while the conveyor. in fact, the reversible traveling conveyor flights traverse the ways along the bed plate 103 and SWEEP-111 a llOIlZOlliitlfll'C- at the oppositelends ofthe ways, the ways at their discharge end terminating to pro' vide for a free flight sweep from one way to It should also be noted that the rear con-'- veyorcomprisesa draft line way and trav cling conveyor flights traversing such way and horizontally about the oppositeends gathering;

conveyor comprises duplex ways-the deliv- The deliver conve or com arises a wa com-w cry conveyor comprises-a single way leading out of and providing a base for the hopper "posed of a non-traveling plane. The: deliv-: ery conveyonalso comprises belt tlzlllSlllls sion means and spaced flightstraveling over compact mass of dislodged material so that ill said plane on the forward run of the belt means. Since the main frame 20 is portable i and shiftable to various adjusted positions" by neansof the rope haulage mechanism shown in F :2, the drawings show mobile means for supporting and transporting the i conveyors and hopper as a unit, in feeding and transit capacities. That is to say, the V worm gear 15 i, 155=is connectedwitlr the screwthreaded shaft 153 and the standard 241112137 be relied on to hold the gatl'iering conveyor in loclted position relative: to the main frame. Then when the ropes 164 are anchored as shown in Fig. 2 and"thedrums 163 rotatedthe entire machine may be forced forwardly so as toinove the bev led edge 11? with considerable force under the semithe latterinay be loaded by operation of the traveling flight-conveyor 100, 101. By refer.

- ring to Fig. 2 it will also be seen hat the hopper 124.

'ment of my invention, what I desire to have rear delivery conveyormay be. swung :latere. ally through a widerange while the rear-H runs of the gathering conveyor are main;- tained in delivery communication with the Ubviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and ar-v rangementof parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as 'defined by the claim-shereto appended, and

wish therefore not to be restricted to the: precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thusv fully ClGSCl'lbGtl an 'GEDbOCli-T secured by Letters Patent of the United;

. States, is r till i 1. ln loading apparatus, the COIIllOliliitlOlIm iwith a gathering device comprising an elevating conveyor having stationary conveyor.

flight planes at the opposite runs;of the belt and a reversible transmission belt having spaced flights traveling over said planes, the belt being; ireverslble for alternately conveyas a unit in feeding and trausi iiig the lllillJGllZll on either of said planes in ail-advancing draft direction, a hopper b-ciiea'th the discharging ends of said plane; foi centralizing the discharge from said planes, said hopper being open in the line of'draft, a delivery conveyor leading out of and providing the base of said hopper com prising a stationary plane, the forward end providing the base of the hopper, belt transii'iissionineans having spaced flight; traveling oversaid plane on the forwaio run of the belt means, means for pivotally conncctingisaid conveyors, the hopper being so lo- .cated' with respect to the gathcrin conveyor that it will be in position to imobstructivcly receive the inaterial discharged from the planesirrespective of the angmlarity of the two conveyors, and means for supporting said conveyor and hopper as a unit in feeding and transit capacities.

2. Inloading apparatus, the combination witha gathering devicecoinprising a gathering and elevating conveyor having its discharge endelevated and its receiving end movable over the floor from which the mamaterial, a delivering conveyor having a way leading out of and providing a base for saidliopper, endless ti'ansi'nission XHUHDSCRF- rying spaced flights traversing said way and about a horizontal axisat each of the opposite ends of said way, the discharge end -Of;SELlClCOI1Y6 v*0l' being elevated to receive eartherebeneath into which the conveyor is ada'pted to centrally discharge, and means for supporting said convey and hopper capacities.

3. In loading apparatus, the combination with a gathering device comprising an elevating conveyor having a reversible transmission. belt having spaced arm flights extending horizontally from the belt, of light run-ways upon which the material is con- :v-eyedby the flights, the reversibility of the beltrendering said w ys alternately available'for conveying the material in a common draft direction, said ways tern'iinati g at their discharge. ends, said conveyor being mounted for movement horizontally, a hopper disposed beneath the discharge end of .said gathering conveyor open in a draft line, .a delivering conveyor leading out of and providing the base of said hopper, the. hopfor supporting the conveyor and hopper for movement as a unit relatively thereto.

l. ln loading apparatus, the combination with a gathering device comprising a 0011- veyer, of a delivering conveyer mounten for relative swinging movement on an upright axis, said gathering conveyor being in delivery communication with said delivering conveyor, of a nose portion for said gathering device with beveled edges extending along the sides of such nose portion at the surface from which the material is to be loaded, means for moving said nose portion to cause said beveled edges to gather loads for said gathering conveyor, and means for driving said conveyors.

5. In a loading machine, the combination with a stationary elongated main frame adapted to extend longitudinally of a mine ly beneath the material to be loaded, and a on said main frame for rectilinear movement i with a main frame, of a. gathering device comprising a receiving frame adapted to occupy a retracted position relatlve to said main frame and an advanced position relativethereto, means on said mainframe for moving said receiving frame rectilinearly and relatively to said main frame into roceiving osition for receiving dislodged material near the base of the mine wall, and a traveling conveyor mounted on said receiving frame to move bodily therewith and to occupy a position for removing such material.

8. ln loading machine, the combination with a main frame, of a gathering device comprising a receiving frame having a horizontal flat bottom adapted to slide over a mine floor in advance of said mainframe, means mounted on said main frame for moving said receiving frame rectilinearly to a position to receive dislodged material and to retract said receiving frame away from its receiving position toward said main frame, and traveling conveyor mechanism mounted on said receiving frame in fired relation thereto for movement bodily therewith and for transferring material toward loading position. a

9. In a loading machine, the combination with main frame, of a gathering device comprising a receiving frame adapted to occupy a retracted position relative to said main frame, a beveled scooping edge on said 'eceiving frame, means for moving the receiving frame reetilinearly and relatively to said main frame to move said beveled edge along the mine floor in advance of said main frame to scoop up dislodged material lying on such floor, and a traveling conveyor mounted on said receiving frame to move bodily therewith and to occupy a position for removing gathered material.

10, In a loading machine, the combination with main frame, of a gathering device comprising a receiving frame having a beveled scooping edge adapted to move'over a mine floor in advance of said main frame, means on said main frame for moving said receiving frame roctilincarly and forwardly to gather material lying on the floor n the of an upright mine wall, such movmeans also retracting said receiving frame from its receiving position toward said frame, and traveling conveyor mocha-- nism mounted on said receiving frame in fixed relation thereto for movement bodily therewith and for transforr g dislodged material toward loading positon.

11. in a loading machine, the combination with a main frame, of a gathering device comprising a supplemental receiving frame having a beveled edge adaptedto move over a mine floor, said supplemental receiving frame being adapted to occupy a retracted position relative to said main frame, means for moving said supplemental frame rectilinearly forwardly to gather material from the floor by means of said beveled edge, and traveling conveyor mechaltlll ing said beveled:edgeheneath thewniaterial' iects, a sh:

,esaeee nisni mounted on said supplemental frame iried .bysaid base plate and extending upinfiXed relation thereto forimovement bod Wardly therefrom a gathering device co1n ily therewith and for transferringgathered prising axplattorn'i guided on said base Y umaterial toward loading position. late and having a slot therein through i 12. In a 'loading.-n"1aehine the combine-L vvhiehsaidstandard projects, and v. .1 tion Withxasupportingframe, otxai gather :sociatedsivith said standard for n1o\ ing' device-comprisingorplattorinihaving a: platform. longitudinally of said forward edge arenate in -plan onai radius to=efieet gathering movements ot substantially equal to halt the Widthfoit the form.

platform, suchforwordnedgebeing beveled" 1."T .In a loaz'ling machine, the eombina- 75 upwardly toward thereari and having t10n' '\v1th "abase frame ot a standard exushonlder'extendingalong' thedorward are: tending opv from 1 [d in frame, a

- t e d ti 1, said:platforni a COI -1igiltllfillllg.fie\l coinpri g asupplemental v t id l t-f r i iti t b itranie ha *ing a longitni-ii :il central slot iorproteeted by said sh oulder -means for tore v-itierein through \vhich standard. pro so t carried by and supplemental {on th fl i flc vuncggn id porting"frame andithreeded thronghsaid standard,

f 111 a d means f r ti said con fgatllelllig mechanism carried by said supi Weyer toremove t1' g 1 ih d fl pleinental frame, and means tor rotating-r "saidtp'la-tforin. :fisa'id shaftto move said supplemental frame so 13, 1 33 loading-i lna-ghin'g th ie bi uw and :operate said gathering meehanisin. h ith: a wimsupporting fl e, f 18. In loading opparatiis HC(HHlHI'NilZlO-H th i d i comprising};'platf m With a portable base frame, 0'! a conveyor connected to said frame and havingn por- .inonnted thereon for sliding movement relai fistioniet theoperiphery thereof beveled said tivelvtheretmnneans at the forward end of so "platform bei vabl h ltiv l '[0 aid said conve ver in position to move over the f15111'13.andinadvanggrthgpegf w'hilelgaid"iSlllfflCG from which the material to be .w xtralneremains stationary, and lneci lilnisn'inlOZIClGd and dif. et such material i'tlfltilt'l con- 2 comprising a screw iconneeted to said staveyer, 1} rearconveyer mounted on said base so;:ti'onaryetra'lne for forcing tllQ lJQVQlBCl"POT traine tor sliding movement relatively therean I edition of said:periphery:beneath the 1112i? rial to 'Mltll said hrst-nan'ied conveyor, and a i 1 to belloaded. hopper for maintaining delivery eonmmni- 14.111 asloadingrmachine, i1l1.001'11l)l312L- cation between said conveyors for all posi tion withastationarysupportingframe oi tions of said conveyors and its directing a gathering "device?eon'iprising aspiattorin j means relative to said 1' ase frame. NH) connected to said lntraine for movement rela-; 1:97 In loading apparatus, the combination .tively thereto in advance:thereo-hsaid plat-= with a base .iraine, 01 a gathering device torin having its forward end free and nn-w"comprising an elevatii'ig conve; having obstructed and "ineposition ..to' move under: wvays and traveling conveyor flights traverses the. .niaterialto be loaded, a'eonveyer on'saidg ing .saidi Ways and sweeping in horizontal 5 platform adjacent tne torwardedge thereof arcs atthe ends of said ways, a hopper disin'position for 'transierring tovvrrd lea-ding sposed beneath the discharge end of said conposition the materialiasisoon Igathered by veyenopen' in the line of 'k tt, a delivery said platform; mechanism COllIPllSillf; Ft? conveyorcomprising. a vdra'lft line Way and :3 serevv'conneotedttosaidstationaryfraine for 1 traveling conveyer flights traversing said forcing said platform:together -with said' Way and horizontallyatthe opposite ends conveyor beneath material tOllJalORClBCh andthereot said last-named We leading out of motor for operating saidscrew. and providing thebase of said hoppen and 15. In a loading'maehine the OOHlbiDR-"GIBQQHS on said base frame for pivotally tion With-n stationaryfitraine.otsa gathering winounting said delivery conveyor While 11 device comprising "a :plattornitinovably "maintaining delivery eoninninication beniountedensaid frame and having 'a& slide -tivee1i .said first-named conveyor and said Way extending around theiorward portion hopper.

thereof, conveyor mounted onsaidJplat-G 20. Inloading apparatus, the combination 55 .fori'n to ti'avelalong saidslid xvay, a motor ivitha gathering device eoi'i'iprisii'ig an eleconnected to said: conveyer to Joperate the vating conveyor having ways andconvever same, and mechanismeoinprisingi'a: mot rx flights traversing said days and sweeping in connected to a screw on said: stati'onaryw horizontal'arcs at the opposite ends of said frame for t'oreing'said'plattorin and c0n-y Ways, hopper disposed beneath the dis- 1 3o veyer torivz'irdly relatively to 'saidxiraine charge end of said conveyor open in the line -while"said'traineremains stationary Ate niove Jotidraft, a delivery eonvevercomprising a said piattorln under material dislodged; "draft line Way and travelingconveyorflights troni thetaceof'iipr1gl1t:in1ne:\vall. traverslngsaid Way and horiz i'ntaliv along I v I v 4 1 I g V 7 v 16. In a loadlng machine, tfl(i (20]11l)111t1- opposite ends thereor, said he; manned \vav 65 tien Wlth a base plat-e, of a standard car.- leading out of and providing the base of I30 said hopper, mobile means for supporting and transporting said conveyers and hopper as a unit, and means for adjusting such unit along said mobile means.

21. In loading apparatus, the combination with a portable supporting frame, of a gathering device comprising a gathering and elevating conveyer, a hopper beneath the discharge end of said conveyer, a delivery conveyer connected to said hopper and pivotally mounted to swing laterally While delivery communication is maintained. between said conveyers at said hopper, and, means for supporting said conveyers and hopper for adjustment as a unit along said supporting frame.

22. In a loading machine, the combination With a supporting frame, of a conveyor mounted on said frame, a plate extending over one run of said conveyor and adapted to serve as a step to support an operator, an additional platform elevated above said plate and adapted to support the operator, means comprising a motor for operating said conveyor, and mechanism comprising a controlling lever Within reach of the operator on said additional platform for controlling the operation of said conveyor.

23. In a loading machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a conveyor thereon With its opposite runs in the same plane, a cover plate extending over the return run of the conveyor and serving as a step for the operator, an elevated platform near said plate and adapted to support an operator, means for operating said conveyor, and mechanism Within reach of the operator 011 said platform for controlling said con veyor-operating means. a

24. In loading apparatus, the combination with a main frame, of a gathering device comprising a supplemental frame mounted thereon for rectilinear movement relatively 1 thereto, gathering mechanism comprising a scooping plate at the forward end of said supplemental frame, means comprising a motor for operating sald gathering mechanism by moving the same rectilinearly relatively to said main frame, a traveling con veyor on said supplemental frame in position to receive the gathered material and transfer the same toward loading position,

means comprisinga separate motor for operating said conveyor, and means for controlling said motors to secure the operation of said conveyor independently ofthe operation of said gathering mechanism.

In testimony WhereofI have signed my name to this specification on this 5th day of April, A. D. 1923.

EDMUND G. MORGAN. 

